Oluchi J Osuala¹ , Chisom R Obasi¹, Terhemen Kasso², Chukwuemeka C Chukwuma³, Stephen N Ezekwueche⁴, Victor E Ike⁴, Eucharia Ekwegbalu⁵, Charles O Nnadi^6,7, Angus N Oli^1,8, Malachy C Ugwu^8.9

¹Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Madonna University, Elele 511101,; ²Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt 500004,; ³Department of Biochemistry, Madonna University, Nigeria, Elele 511101, Rivers State, Nigeria.; ⁴Department of Microbiology, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo 464115, Imo State,; ⁵Department of Microbiology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, 431124 Anambra State,; ⁶Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Enugu State,; ⁷Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Madonna University, Elele, 511101, Rivers State,; ⁸Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology,; ⁹TETFUND, Centre of Excellence for Biomedical, Engineering and Agricultural Translational Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka 420001, Anambra State, Nigeria.

For correspondence:-  Oluchi Osuala   Email: osualaoluchioo@gmail.com   Tel:+234-8065844112

Received: 14 April 2026        Accepted: 17 May 2026        Published: 29 June 2026

Citation: Osuala OJ, Obasi CR, Kasso T, Chukwuma CC, Ezekwueche SN, Ike VE, et al. Multidrug resistance and biofilm formation in methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus from pregnant women attending antenatal clinic with asymptomatic bacteriuria in Rivers State, Nigeria. Trop J Pharm Res 2026; 25(6):803-813 doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v25i6.6

© 2026 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and biofilm-forming S. aureus among pregnant women seeking antenatal care services in Rivers State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at three tertiary hospitals, namely, the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), and Madonna University Teaching Hospital (MUTH), spanning from January 2024 to March 2024. Midstream urine samples of 10mL were collected from 423 consenting pregnant women and analysed microbiologically for bacterial isolation. Bacterial isolates were identified using standard biochemical methods, and MRSA detection was performed via disk diffusion. Analysis, including antibiotic susceptibility and biofilm production, was also evaluated. Results: A high prevalence of bacteriuria (75.29 %) was recorded, with RSUTH recording the highest occurrence (43.70 %). MRSA prevalence varied across facilities, with MUTH showing the highest methicillin resistance (68 %). All bacterial isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR), particularly against cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. Biofilm production was detected in 2.5, 13.6, and 20 % of isolates from UPTH, RSUTH, and MUTH, respectively. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of bacteriuria and MRSA across the health facilities in Rivers State. This is a critical public health concern and calls for targeted antimicrobial stewardship programmes in antenatal care.

Keywords: Antenatal clinics, Asymptomatic bacteriuria, Biofilm formation, Maternal health, Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Multidrug resistance

Impact Factor
Thompson Reuters (ISI): 0.6 (2023)
H-5 index (Google Scholar): 49 (2023)